Doctor Polaris

Created by John Broome and Gil Kane, the first Doctor Polaris, Neal Emerson, made his first appearance in Green Lantern #21 (August 1963).{{cite book |last=Wells |first=John |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1960-64 |date=2015 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490458 |page=125}}

The second Doctor Polaris, John Nichol, first appeared off-panel in Justice League of America vol. 2 #11 (September 2007), before receiving a full introduction in Justice League of America vol. 2 #17 (March 2008). Nichol's origins in this issue were developed by Lilah Sturges and Andre Coelho.

Neal Emerson and his brother John were raised by an abusive father (although a later flashback shows him raised by an abusive aunt). This apparently drove Neal Emerson within himself and led to the creation of the personification of his own dark side. Emerson left the United States for a year and returned to find he was an uncle. His brother John and sister-in-law Katherine had adopted a baby and named him Grant. Emerson is not around much for his nephew over the years, but is fond of him.

As a medical student, Neal Emerson develops a fanatical interest in magnets, despite the teasing of his classmates. Emerson is convinced exposure to magnetic fields will give him more energy. He later holds crowd-drawing lectures on "Health via Magnetism". Due to his medical background and belief in magnetism, Emerson adopts the name "Doctor Polaris". He designs a special costume and mask to wear for his public appearances.{{Citation | last = Jimenez | first = Phil | author-link = Phil Jimenez | contribution = Doctor Polaris | editor-last = Dougall | editor-first = Alastair | title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia | page = 105 | publisher = Dorling Kindersley | place = New York | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-0-7566-4119-1 | oclc = 213309017}}

Emerson's evil personality eventually takes over and becomes a supervillain and enemy of Green Lantern.{{cite book |last =Rovin |first =Jeff |title =The Encyclopedia of Supervillains |publisher =Facts on File |date =1987 |location =New York |isbn = 0-8160-1356-X |page=102}}

In "Underworld Unleashed", the Polaris personality sells Emerson's soul to Neron in exchange for increased powers. He serves as Neron's lieutenant before being betrayed by Lex Luthor and the Joker.{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=McAvennie |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |title=DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-8578-6 |page=255}}

Some time afterward, Polaris attacks Poseidonis. At that same time, Maxima is in the city trying to force Aquaman to marry her. Using her mental abilities, Maxima compels Polaris into believing that his alternate personality has reemerged, forcing him into a catatonic state.{{multiref2|Green Lantern (vol. 3) #96 (March 1998)|Green Arrow (vol. 2) #130 (March 1998)|The Flash (vol. 2) #135 (March 1998)

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In "Last Laugh", Polaris attempts to take control of the magnetic south pole and battles the Justice League. He is defeated by Plastic Man, who is unaffected by his powers. The Slab prison is moved to Antarctica, as Polaris is the magnetic pole and cannot be moved.

Shortly thereafter, Polaris appears in San Francisco, allied with the Cadre. Convinced that civilization and humanity's free will are obstacles for creating a better Earth, he plans to use the Controller's power and stolen S.T.A.R. Labs equipment to focus his powers and "cleanse the world". The Power Company defeat Polaris by turning Black Mass against his master and using him to drain Polaris' power.

Shortly before "Infinite Crisis", Dr. Polaris appears in Metropolis, seeking Superman's help in battling a more powerful and ruthless magnetism manipulator called Repulse. Repulse is later revealed to be a manifestation of his personality disorder and is defeated after Polaris accepts that she is not real.

During "Villains United", Polaris joins Lex Luthor's Secret Society of Super Villains before being killed by the Human Bomb.Infinite Crisis #1 (December 2005)

In Blackest Night, Emerson is temporarily revived as a Black Lantern.

Following "The New 52" and "DC Rebirth" relaunches, Neal Emerson appears as a member of Maxwell Lord's supervillain team and a former member of the Suicide Squad.Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #1 (February 2017)Suicide Squad (vol. 5) #9 (March 2017)

The second Doctor Polaris, John Nichol, is introduced in Justice League of America (vol. 2).Justice League of America (vol. 2) #11 (September 2007)Justice League of America vol. 2 #17 (March 2008) He is a member of Libra's Secret Society before being killed by Neal Emerson in Blackest Night.{{multiref2|Justice League of America (vol. 2) #21 (July 2008)|Blue Beetle (vol. 7) #32 (December 2008)|Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #29 (September 2009)|Blackest Night #4 (December 2009)

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Both versions of Doctor Polaris possess the power to generate and channel electromagnetism naturally or artificially. They can lift heavy metallic objects, control ferrous particles in the atmosphere, alter Earth's electromagnetic field, fly at subsonic speeds, and project forms of energy related to magnetism. They are able to manipulate the metals within the Earth to create earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or other disasters. They can also sense metals around them, determine on the distance.Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #6 (August 1985)Green Lantern (vol. 2) #21 (June 1963) The John Nichol incarnation can create localized magnetic storms in people's brains, killing them instantly.Blue Beetle (vol. 7) #32 (December 2008)

• The Neal Emerson incarnation of Doctor Polaris appears in Justice League Unlimited, voiced by an uncredited Michael Rosenbaum. This version is a member of Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society who received augmented powers from Lex Luthor, who also included failsafes to override the latter's powers and prevent him from betraying the former.
• An unidentified Doctor Polaris appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Lex Lang.{{cite web |title=Dr. Polaris Voices (DC Universe) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/DC-Universe/Dr-Polaris/ |access-date=July 27, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. Additionally, an unnamed, heroic, alternate universe counterpart makes a non-speaking appearance in the episode "Deep Cover for Batman!".
• An unidentified Doctor Polaris appears in the "Thunder and Lightning" segments of DC Nation Shorts.
• Doctor Polaris appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 2, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=July 27, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}

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Category:Characters created by Brad Meltzer

Category:Characters created by Gil Kane

Category:Characters created by John Broome

Category:Comics characters introduced in 1962

Category:Comics characters introduced in 2008

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Category:DC Comics male supervillains

Category:DC Comics metahumans

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Category:Fictional characters with electric or magnetic abilities

Category:Fictional characters with metal abilities

Category:Fictional medical specialists

Category:Fictional physicists